A supercomputer in China has surpassed its American counterparts to become the most powerful in the world, marking the first time since 2017 that a Chinese computer has topped the list, often seen as a measure of a nation’s technological prowess.
The LineShine computer in Shenzhen has displaced the previous leader of the TOP500 ranking, the American supercomputer El Capitan, in the latest version of the list announced on Tuesday. This marks the debut of the Chinese computer in the ranking. LineShine, located at China’s National Supercomputing Center, achieved a performance of 2,198 exaflops, equating to over 2 quintillion calculations per second. Unlike other high-performance computers, it operates exclusively on conventional computer chips (CPU) rather than graphics processors (GPU), which are typically used for artificial intelligence. According to TOP500, it requires approximately 42.2 megawatts of electrical power to operate.
Significance of Supercomputers and Global Ranking
Supercomputers are particularly valuable for researchers seeking to collect and analyze data, as they can perform complex calculations much more quickly. This capability enables them to tackle some of the world’s most intricate problems, including drug discovery, climate and weather forecasting, and simulating black holes. One of the most notable applications of supercomputers is their critical role in developing models used in artificial intelligence (AI).
El Capitan, located at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California, now ranks second, ahead of two other American supercomputers at national laboratories in Tennessee and Illinois. These five are the only publicly verified exascale computers in the world. The top ten of the TOP500 ranking also includes four European supercomputers. The German supercomputer Jupiter has fallen to fifth place. Other countries with machines in the top ten include Italy, Switzerland, and Japan. The top twenty features Spain, Finland, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.
China’s Statements and European Plans
Meanwhile, Chinese Premier Li Qiang defended the country’s technological achievements on Wednesday, describing them as an opportunity for the world rather than a threat. Li Qiang also asserted that significant state subsidies are not the primary reason for the rapid growth of China’s high-tech industries. This statement follows complaints from Western officials that China’s state support for industries ranging from artificial intelligence to electric vehicles has created an unfair competitive advantage.
The Chinese leader made these remarks during his speech at the opening of the plenary session of the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum’s new champions, known as “Summer Davos,” held this week in the northeastern coastal city of Dalian. He acknowledged rising global concerns about China’s technological innovations, with some referring to it as “China Shock 2.0,” viewing the country’s high-tech boom as a threat to many developed economies. Instead, he suggested it should be seen as a “China Opportunity 2.0.” “From the perspective of global development, ‘China Opportunity 2.0’ means broader access to advanced technologies and a wider spread of benefits,” said Li Qiang.
Last year, the European Union unveiled a plan worth 20 billion euros to establish centers with supercomputers aimed at developing the next generation of AI models through so-called “AI gigafactories,” which would foster collaboration among supercomputing centers, universities, and businesses.
Source: Euronews